Firefighters hosed down blazing trees within a few feet of homes threatened by a wildfire that surged through suburban canyons in Southern California and sent hundreds of people scrambling for safety.More >>

Firefighters hosed down blazing trees within a few feet of homes threatened by a wildfire that surged through suburban canyons in Southern California and sent hundreds of people scrambling for safety.More >>

Wildfires that are blackening the American West in one of the nation's worst fire seasons have ignited calls to thin forests that have become so choked with trees that they are at "powder keg levels.".More >>

Wildfires that are blackening the American West in one of the nation's worst fire seasons have ignited calls to thin forests that have become so choked with trees that they are at "powder keg levels.".More >>

An image of three guys on a green with a raging wildfire in the background at Beacon Rock Golf Course in North Bonneville, WA, has gone viral online. Carl Spackler and Judge Smails were nowhere to be seen.

An image of three guys on a green with a raging wildfire in the background at Beacon Rock Golf Course in North Bonneville, WA, has gone viral online. Carl Spackler and Judge Smails were nowhere to be seen.

A study of part of southeast Houston suggests that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood plain maps were woefully out-of-date long before Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas Gulf Coast.More >>

A study of part of southeast Houston suggests that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood plain maps were woefully out-of-date long before Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas Gulf Coast.More >>

A U.S. government hotline received three reports of spills at a heavily polluted Superfund toxic waste site near Houston after Harvey flooding, and aerial photographs appear to show black-colored water surrounding...More >>

A U.S. government hotline received three reports of spills at a heavily polluted Superfund toxic waste site near Houston after Harvey flooding, and aerial photographs appear to show black-colored water surrounding the waste site, flowing out a bayou.More >>

In Webster County, winds collapsed a warehouse building along Highway 520. In Stewart County, even more destruction to a group of houses right on a chicken farm, one house completely gone, and neighbors made their way out there to clear the debris before emergency crews could arrive.

In Webster County, winds collapsed a warehouse building along Highway 520. In Stewart County, even more destruction to a group of houses right on a chicken farm, one house completely gone, and neighbors made their way out there to clear the debris before emergency crews could arrive.

There are two types of waterspouts, according to the National Ocean Service. Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over the water or move from land to water, and they have the same characteristics.

There are two types of waterspouts, according to the National Ocean Service. Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over the water or move from land to water, and they have the same characteristics.

Thousands of people in Richmond are heading back to work and local universities with the main roads clear, and they'll be on the hunt for a parking space despite snow covering much of the side roads and spaces.

Thousands of people in Richmond are heading back to work and local universities with the main roads clear, and they'll be on the hunt for a parking space despite snow covering much of the side roads and spaces.

One insurance company is helping homeowners protect their homes and possessions with a new smartphone application.

Allstate Insurance has created the "Allstate Digital Locker," which allows homeowners to take photos from room to room of images that could be damaged in the event of devastating severe weather. The photos are archived for future claims.

"There are a lot of things that can happen to a home, but there are also a lot of things you can do proactively that would make things easier in the event of damage of loss," said Ron Stouffer, senior vice president at Allstate Insurance in a news release.

In a 2012 survey of adults with homeowner or rental insurance, Allstate found that 43 percent of respondents were concerned about damages because of natural disasters. Nearly 22 percent of respondents were not sure if their insurance covered natural disasters, while 53 percent believed the U.S. has dealt with more natural disasters through the last several years.

Nearly a third of respondents did not know if their insurance would cover natural disasters at all, while only 8 percent said if they would take their insurance information with them if they were forced to evacuate their homes.

Allstate isn't the only group creating severe weather preparedness technology.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also created an app to help homeowners collect and keep records of their homes in the event of natural disasters.

Both apps are available on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

The new apps for insurance and preparedness for severe weather come as many insurance companies have withdrawn coverage in states with high severe weather occurrences, according to the Insurance Journal.

"Getting through these incidents can be made considerably easier by taking the time to identify what you have and to learn what your policy covers," said Stouffer.

FEMA has prepared awareness plans on its website in both English and Spanish, so citizens can be prepared in every aspect.

"Every year, thousands of people are impacted by severe weather threats such as tornadoes and severe weather," FEMA says on its website.

In initiatives by FEMA and NOAA, the groups created National Severe Preparedness Week. Recognized March 3-9, 2013, states prepped for severe weather specific to their state in the forms of tornado and hurricane drills, flood preparations and other severe weather related incidents, such as power outages.

Firefighters hosed down blazing trees within a few feet of homes threatened by a wildfire that surged through suburban canyons in Southern California and sent hundreds of people scrambling for safety.More >>

Firefighters hosed down blazing trees within a few feet of homes threatened by a wildfire that surged through suburban canyons in Southern California and sent hundreds of people scrambling for safety.More >>

Mexican government officials are still calculating the economic losses of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that caused widespread damage in the capital, but for the manager of a downtown restaurant it is already all...More >>

Mexican government officials are still calculating the economic losses of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that caused widespread damage in the capital, but for the manager of a downtown restaurant it is already all too clear.More >>